Marlene Carroll

Marlene Rae Carroll, age 78, of Colfax, passed away peacefully surrounded and supported by family on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

Marlene was born to Harold and Esther Schumacher, Aug. 12, 1940, in Colfax, Wash. She attended school in Colfax, graduating from Colfax High School in 1958.

After meeting in 1957 at the Top Notch in Colfax, she married the love of her life in 1959, Charles (Chuck) Carroll, embarking on an almost 60 year partnership in marriage together. After high school, she attended beauty school in Spokane, working for a number of different beauty salons in Colfax until her retirement 20 years ago.

After Chuck finished his degree at WSU, he and Marlene and their two young sons moved to Oak Harbor, where he started his teaching career. The family moved back to Colfax in 1967, raising their family, and welcoming all into their home on Cedar Street where they lived for 50 years.

Whether it was for the teams her husband coached, or the sports her children played, Marlene was an avid follower and supporter of Colfax sports. She was always seen at their games with camera, combining her love of photography with her sons' sports to catalogue sports seasons with photo albums.

As her family expanded, with addition of new daughters-in-law and grandchildren, Marlene became an avid traveler, traveling the world to see and spend time with family and grandchildren. Her travels took her to many countries in Western Europe, to Japan, and even a small day-trip into Morocco, where she used her shrewd skills in bargaining to buy a rug.

Marlene was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church, volunteering to help the church in a number of different areas. She and Chuck have also been active in helping at the local Food Bank, as well as with Meals on Wheels.

Marlene was an active gardener, who loved nothing better than a day spent tending to the flowers and vegetable garden around her home. She loved fresh fruit, and every summer looked forward to fresh berries, peaches and corn, which she froze for use in the winter, as well as made into jam for her family and friends to enjoy. She was a wonderful cook, and all her grandchildren enjoyed being spoiled by grandma's meals and sweets she prepared for them on their frequent visits.

She loved her family with all she had and she showed this not only in her words, but her actions. She attended concerts, plays and sporting events. She displayed kindness and patience on a daily basis and made sure her family knew her love was unconditional for all of them, constant and enduring.

She is survived by her husband, Chuck Carroll at their home in Colfax; children, Chuck Jr (Lynn) and Jay (Jill); her grandchildren, Lizzy, Andy, Catherine, Katie (Taylor), Ben, and Sam; and one brother, Harvey Schumacher (Julie). She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Esther Schumacher.

The family would like to thank Whitman Community Hospital and Kindred Hospice for her care and safekeeping. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to Peace Lutheran Church or the Whitman County Hospital Foundation.

Yet, beyond financial donations, Marlene would have asked that you treat others the way you would like to be treated, do a loving act of kindness, make someone laugh, send a card, give a hug or say "I love you" to a special friend in her memory. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

As it was Marlene's wish that a service be held closer to Spring, and include all her family especially her grandchildren, it will be scheduled at a date in the near future when all can attend and celebrate her life.